Tuesday, November 10, 2020

Glenna Goodacre



Saks Galleries recently acquired an important early work by Glenna Goodacre.  

Ms. Goodacre passed away earlier this year but is fondly remembered as America's premier portrait sculptor. Her well-known sculptures include the Women's Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C., the Sacagawea design on the United States Dollar coin, and the massive thirty-five figure Irish Memorial in Philadelphia. 


'Waterbearer' depicts a traditional Pueblo woman. It was made in a very small edition of fifteen. It is also of note that with this bronze, Ms. Goodacre did each pot design personally with patina chemicals so that every pot design is different. This makes for a truly unique work and a wonderful bronze for collecting... or gift-giving.
 



Sunday, October 18, 2020

Raj Chaudhuri Paints the Grand Canyon.

                                                   
The Weather at the Grand Canyon literally changes by the hour. Painting there was so insightful and challenging. Doing several studies trying to capture the light with the value relationship and colors was the goal.

Saturday, May 16, 2020

In Bloom Virtual Exhibition Now Open!

Jane Jones
Sunlit Stars
oil, 43 x 42 inches

Visit our www.saksgalleries.com to see these 
new arrivals and many more!


Cheryl St. John
Giverny Roses
oil, 14 x 11 inches

Andrea Kemp
Stillness
oil, 15 x 15 inches

Contact us at 303.333.4144 or info@saksgalleries.com for more information.

Friday, May 1, 2020

New Arrivals! Jane Christie at Saks Galleries

Symphony in Summer
pastel, 25 x 20 inches


Jane Christie has been an active artist practically all of her life. She studied art at the Atlanta High Museum of Art, University of Georgia, Denver Art Museum and Art Students League of Denver. Jane has taught workshops at Saks Galleries, Foothills Art Center, Center for the Arts Evergreen and for Pastel Society of Colorado.

The Cellist
pastel, 13 x 10 inches

Jane’s paintings not only reflect her love of nature, but her love of color, light, and the impressionistic style. Her goal is to share her artistic passion and love of art through the paintings she creates. Jane enjoys painting plein air and painting in her studio.

Take the Trail
pastel, 26 x 18 inches 

For more information on these works and more, contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Dan Simplicio (1917-1969) Master of the Zuni Renaissance



The artistic explosion of talent in Zuni silver and stonework of the mid-20th Century is known as the Zuni Renaissance (c.1930-c.1960). It came at an historic crossroads of events and human endeavor. Seashells from the Gulf of Mexico and trade items such as silver crosses and brass ornaments were brought laboriously to the Southwestern Pueblos before New Mexico became a U.S. territory in 1846. The Spanish missions brought Christianity to the Zuni but they never lost sight of their own Creation mythology, the god/goddess Awonawilona, and spirits such as the Knifewing, protector of the village. In the first decades after 1900 there were many technical advantages for silver workers that had not been available in prior times. Commercial solder and blow torches were superior to using borax and silver shavings over an open fire. Electricity was used for lighting and other tools of the trade. The advent of the railroads in the Rio Grande Valley brought customer, national interest and opportunities for all Indian craftspeople. And into this mix of history and commerce emerged the highly gifted artists of Zuni.

One of the most innovative and compelling jewelers of this period was Dan Simplicio. In certain ways he was traditional -- hand-making his own decorative bezels, wire and sheet from ingot silver bars. He is however also credited with being the first to use branch uncut coral nuggets and branches in his pieces. His distinctive silver applied leaves and stamped silver drops became hallmarks of his style. His stone work included carving as well as mosaic and channel inlay. The resulting works were expressive and highly original, paving the way for a modernist movement in Native American silversmithing well into the later 20th Century.

Simplicio, along with many nearby Navajo and Zuni jewelers, worked primarily for trader Charles Garrett Wallace at the Zuni trading post in New Mexico. Artists such as Leo Poblano, Juan de Dios (Simplicio’s uncle), Leekya Deyuse, Teddie Weahkee, Frank Vacit and Frank Dishta like traded materials, tools and ideas with Simplicio and among each other -- a synergy Wallace and other traders encouraged by providing the artists with a steady marketplace and exemplary materials.

Many public and online museum displays of Simplicio’s work are available for further viewing: The Heard Museum, Phoenix; The Wheelwright Museum, Santa Fe; The Albuquerque Museum; The Kennedy Collection of Ohio University.

For more information, contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Edward Aldrich at Saks Galleries

New Arrival!
Patterns of Light and Shadow
oil, 12 x 12 inches

Edward Aldrich considers himself a representational fine art oil painter capturing the true essence of his wildlife art. Aldrich conveys the animal in its natural surroundings offering glimpses of a prowling white wolf or a rabbit resting in the afternoon sun.

Ice Wolf
oil, 40 x 28 inches

Edward Aldrich is an artist dedicated to reaching beyond the realistic rendering of wildlife and the natural world. He is convinced that conveying the inherent being of an animal is integral to his work. His style breathes life into his subjects and invokes the viewer into feeling that he or she is actually a witness to the scene. The viewer is not left to simply look and appreciate, but is drawn into experiencing the essence of what is depicted. In short, his is an art of feeling as well as portrayal.

Siblings
oil, 32 x 36 inches

For more information, contact us at info@sakgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Monday, April 20, 2020

New Arrivals! Olga and Aleksey Ivanov at Saks Galleries

Nine Spring Notes
egg tempera, 16 x 19 inches

Much has been said, written and discussed about this dynamic duo.  Olga and Aleksey Ivanov are clearly a team built on ingenious creativity, ironic icons, mythology, technical precision, playful storytelling combined with a traditional execution proving masterpieces each time they offer a painting. 
Pink Pointe Shoes
egg tempera, 24 x 36 inches

Olga and Aleksey Ivanov are considered two of the top Egg Tempera Fine Artists in the country today.  Their modern approach to an ancient art form shows reverence to the medium.  Both artists work in tandem depicting images that reflect exquisite compositions - delightful trompe l’ oeil paintings full of whimsy, intellect and trickery. 

Street Motive
egg tempera, 19 x 18 inches

The Ivanovs' paintings are unique because of their subject matter, joint execution and medium.  For more information, contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.



Saturday, April 18, 2020

New Arrivals! Barry Eisenach at Saks Galleries

Lakota Dog Soldier
oil, 24 x 36 inches

“My intent is to capture the spirit, personality and emotion of my subject and hopefully make a connection with the viewer on some personal level,” Eisenach explains.  “I paint and sculpt wild animals, cowboys and historic ways of life among American Indians.”

Oglala Sioux Chief
oil, 24 x 18 inches


The artist works out of his own studio in Colorado in the foothills of Rocky Mountain National Park.  Barry focuses primarily on historical western and wildlife art and sculpture, along with contemporary cowboy and ranch subjects. His portraits of trappers, mountain men, historical figures, cowboys, wildlife and American Indians portray the intelligence and emotion of his subjects.

Eisenach has won many awards, including Best in Show at Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum Show; two gold medals for sculpture at the Bosque Conservatory Show in Clifton, Texas; Montana Historical Society Legacy Award; Silver Rose Award at the National Sculpture Society Annual Exhibition; and Awards of Merit and Heritage Awards from the Western Rendezvous of Art Show in Montana.

For more information, contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Thursday, April 16, 2020

Tips for Starting an Art Collection




1. Buy what you love
  • It sounds simple but there is an element of “you’ll know it when you see it” or love at first sight when making your first art purchase. Art is also an investment in your current home and happiness, don’t buy something because you think it will be worth more one day, buy it because of the joy it brings you today.
Sara Noel
Hanging Lake, mixed media, 40 x 60 inches

2. Browse
  • Take your time looking around, maybe make a few laps around the gallery to get a feel for the artists and different styles. See something that you like but it’s not quite right?  We almost always have other works by the artists in inventory that we’re more than happy to show you.
Raj Chaudhuri
Back Feet Indian Dance, oil, 24 x 36 inches

3. Set a budget
  • Have an idea of how much you’d like to spend.  If you see something you like but it’s out of your price range, let us know, we can offer suggestions for similar works that might be the perfect fit.
Margaretta Caesar
Spring Sings in Ojo, oil, 40 x 40 inches

4. Come to events (when gatherings are allowed again)
  • Many artists come to opening events and would love to talk with you and share their process. 
Cheryl St. John
Light Show, oil, 24 x 30 inches

5. Do some research
  • Have you found an artist you like? Learn a little about their career, we’d be happy to speak with you about them and send you home with some biographical information about them.
Stephanie Birdsall
Luscious, oil, 14 x 18 inches


Our Rhythm of Art virtual exhibition is a great place to start!  

to see work by different artists and a variety of styles!

The fastest way to reach us with any questions is by email at info@saksgalleries.com

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

McKenney and Hall at Saks Galleries

Thomas McKenney was the Superintendent of Indian Affairs under three Presidents -- Madison, Monroe & Adams.  A visitor to his office in the War Department near the White House would have seen a carefully collected ‘museum’ of Indian artifacts.  There were buffalo hides, ceremonial pipes, clothing and even a full size canoe over the doorway.  Importantly, there were also portrait paintings of many of the tribal Chiefs and Sub-Chiefs that had come to Washington to meet the Great White Father, accept gifts and peace medals and sign peace treaties.  Most of these portraits were done by the well known artist Charles Bird King.



Chon-Man-I-Case
17 x 12 inches


The ritual of inviting the Indian Chiefs to Washington was one of the original stated missions of the Lewis & Clark Expedition brilliantly initiated by Thomas Jefferson.  The underlying strategy presented to a hesitant Congress by Jefferson was to not only explore the vast continent West of the Mississippi for future settlement but more immediately to control the rivers and fur trade that had been previously dominated by French and English interests.


Chon-Ca-Pe
17 x 12 inches

However, McKenney’s ideas of treating the Indians fairly and with respect were ideologically not in line with the policies of the Andrew Jackson administration and therefore he was forced to resign his post in 1830.  By this time, however, he had already had the idea of making a series of lithographs after the collection of Indian portraits.  It was a project that took him the next fourteen years to complete -- through years of near bankruptcy, numerous printers and emotional distress.

His persistence was a blessing to the following generations because it happened that most of the original Charles Bird King paintings were destroyed in a fire at the then new Smithsonian Institution in 1865.  So the only record we have today of these early Indians are in fact the lithographs made by McKenney.  They stand as some of the finest and most important prints ever made in America.

For more information contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Ken Elliott at Saks Galleries


Ken is a colorist with the landscape as the focus of that interest. His works are not portraits of places but scenes that are subjected to abstraction – still recognizable but infused with colors and values beyond the normal. 

For over 25 years he has explored his landscape themes, subjecting them to dramatic extremes of light and color combinations that are richly stimulating and at times poetic. 

Forest Placido, oil, 48 x 36 inches
His works are direct, showing the lessons of the Impressionist as well as Modern schools. For the past 25 years, he has worked primarily in oils and pastels. 

“I am continually drawn to the landscape and it’s infinite variations. The compositions are a starting point for unexpected things to happen. By pushing what is possible in the scene, new potentials are presented and I’m intrigued to follow. The works never follow a straight or efficient path because I am looking for what is not known and to bring it into form. I am trying to thrill myself and offer something new and precious to the viewer.” 




Learn more about Ken in this video.

Contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144 for more information.




Friday, April 10, 2020

Bradi Barth at Saks Galleries

Bradi Barth was born in St. Gall, Switzerland in 1922, the daughter of a renowned surgeon. Her formal art education was acquired at the Academie Royale in Ghent, Belgium beginning in 1946.  Upon graduation she was awarded the Academy’s Gold Medal, it’s highest honor.  But it was not until 1950, when she exhibited a canvas, The Spanish Lady, at the Exposition Nationale Quadriennale in Ghent which received critical acclaim that her professional career truly began.  She was soon commissioned to paint her first series of the 14 Stations of the Cross for St. John the Baptist Church in Ghent, a city that remained her true home for the remainder of her life.


Flowers from the Garden
egg tempera, 29 x 23 inches


In 1960, Bradi came to the United States to rest and visit friends in Peetz, Colorado, a small town on the Eastern Plains.  Inspired by the new surroundings she produced a series of stained glass windows for the local church -- this is now a landmark which draws visitors from far and wide and has additionally become a sort of shrine in itself for collectors and followers of her work.  On a trip to Denver, the capital of Colorado,  Bradi was introduced to Lemon Saks, the founder of Saks Galleries, which at the time was called Denver Art Galleries located in downtown Denver.  The relationship blossomed and there were numerous sold-out exhibitions with paintings going to important collections and museums.  Mr. Saks in turn introduced her to other important galleries, such as Hammer Galleries in New York and Tooth and Sons in London which brought her work international acclaim.

Salve Regina (Hail to the Queen)
egg tempera, 30 x 24 inches

The paintings of Bradi Barth have a profound purity and elegance, perhaps due to her knowledge of the Renaissance Masters and the very traditional medium of egg tempera.  But there is more…..the use of complicated glazes, clear bold colors, and a controlled craquelure that one seldom sees anywhere else. In the pristine costumes and compositions one is reminded of  Flemish Masters such as Memling and Van Der Weyden.  Bradi’s personality and religious convictions, evident in the paintings, are part of the attraction, along with her sensitivity and freshness.  A foundation she established in 2000 provides postcards and traveling exhibitions of her work for churches throughout Europe.  Before her death in 2007, Bradi also donated a series of 36 paintings to a convent, Zusters van Liefde, near her hometown, in Kortemark, Belgium.

Contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144 for more information.

Wednesday, April 8, 2020

New Arrivals! Anna Rose Bain at Saks Galleries

Composing Thoughts
oil, 12 x 16 inches

Anna Rose Bain (b. 1985) Accomplished fine art painter and commissioned portrait artist Anna Rose Bain is especially known for her award winning paintings of women and children. She is a Signature member of the Oil Painters of America, Out of State Artist member of the California Art Club, and a Signature faculty member of the Portrait Society of America. Her award-winning work can be found in numerous private and public collections around the world. 


Rhythm and Light
oil, 30 x 20 inches

Anna studied fine art at Hillsdale College from 2003-2007, and in 2006 she took a figure painting course at the Florence Academy of Art. After graduating from Hillsdale with honors and distinguishing herself as the first student in the school's history to have a solo senior show, she continued her education by studying with several renowned artists including Judith Carducci, Clayton J. Beck, III, Nancy Guzik, and more. Anna now resides in Arvada, CO with her husband Steve and their two children. 


Joyous Dance
oil, 10 x 8 inches

Anna's style employs a direct painting method (alla prima) while drawing from classical roots. She gains inspiration from the joys and struggles of life, seeking to make the world a better place through her art.


Becoming
oil, 36 x 18 inches

See these works and more in our Rhythm of Art virtual exhibition at www.saksgalleries.com.

For more information contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.



Monday, April 6, 2020

New Arrivals! Raj Chaudhuri at Saks Galleries



Rehearsal in Bombay
oil, 18 x 24 inches


Raj Chaudhuri describes himself as one of the "New Orientalists," a traveling painter in the modern world. Storytelling is his focus, creating exotic imagery from ceremonial camel races to paintings utilizing bright flashes of color.


Black Feet Indian Dance
oil, 24 x 36 inches

See these new works and more in the Rhythm of Art virtual exhibition at www.saksgalleries.com.

For more information contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Friday, April 3, 2020

New Arrivals! Marina Dieul at Saks Galleries

Marina Dieul was born in France. She showed great interest in painting and drawing from an early age, and her family encouraged her vocation. In early 2000, she moved to Montreal, Canada, where she now lives. She has since studied with Tim Stotz and Michelle Tully, former students of Ted Seth Jacobs.

Petite Souris 36
oil, diameter 4 inches

Her work has received numerous awards and honors, including the Kingston Prize, Salon International hosted by Greenhouse Gallery in San Antonio, the Artist Magazine, and has been extensively profiled in International Artist Magazine, among others. "Stroke of Genius " #2 and #3 (published by North Light Books) also features her work.


Maestro 1
oil on music paper, 8 x 8 inches


Marina Dieul is known for her animals and figures paintings in trompe-l'oeil style, full of humor and poetry.  She works in her Montreal studio surrounded by the many cats she fosters for a no-kill shelter in Montreal. 


Maestro 2
oil on music paper, 8 x 8 inches


See these new works and more in our Rhythm of Art exhibition, 
opening virtually today at www.saksgalleries.com!

For more information contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Rhythm of Art Virtual Exhibition Opens on Friday!


Rhythm of Art

Virtual Exhibition opens Friday, April 3rd


Visit our www.saksgalleries.com this coming Friday, April 3rd for new and unique works!  
See how artists capture and are inspired by musical moments! 
You'll find a sneak peak of a couple new works below.


Joseph Lorusso
High Horn, oil, 26 x 24 inches


Marina Dieul
Maestro 2, oil, 8 x8 inches


For more information, contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.


Thursday, March 26, 2020

Susiehyer at Saks Galleries

Artist Statement
I have always been close to the land, felt part of it. As a child, it pained me to tears every time a new housing development went in near our house, or a new road was carved into the ground, destroying the woodlands that I felt connected to and was playground and companion. And while I eventually resigned myself to the fact that this was just the way things go, I never have felt entirely comfortable with it.

Prairie's Edge (Western Slope 3)
oil on paper, 24 x 36 inches

The idea that these landscapes are cut up and carved out, and broken down, reflects what has happened to much of our Colorado landscape in sometimes intelligent and many times misguided attempts to make life better in some fashion for its inhabitants. The sometimes unintended, and sometimes intentional consequences have resulted in lands, waterways, and natural features taking a beating..... stamped on, trampled over, bulldozed, cut up by highways, destroyed by drilling, fracking, and abuses. In these pieces I have broken down large landscape pieces into smaller bits, dripped and thrown paint, scratched and scraped back some of the shapes the way I would approach a pure abstract painting, in order to see some of the history of the painting process. I have also erased some of the process in other parts of the painting, very much the way  much of our natural history has been erased, not just in Colorado, but everywhere. 

Prairie's Edge (Western Slope 3)
oil on paper, 20 x 24 inches

These pieces were the result of a lot of studio experimentation and process toward my goal of abstracting the landscape, but I didn't really see the connection to some very old buried feelings that had surfaced until well after these particular paintings were completed. I didn't set out to make that statement. But over the course of a lifetime of pursuing art, I would imagine that, all that I feel, all that I experience, and everything that has made me what I am will eventually find its way into the art making process. It is the result of a lifetime of exploring the question as to why I paint.

Contact us at 303.333.4144 or info@saksgalleries.com for more information.


Tuesday, March 24, 2020

Oskar Fischinger's The Red Bowl at Saks Galleries


The Red Bowl, 1944
oil on celotex, 32 x 39 inches


During WWII, artists began to have a difficult time finding canvas and would often use non-traditional surface for their creations. Around 1943-1944, Oskar Fischinger was able to acquire 20 pieces of celotex (a composition board).

In the excerpt below, William Moritz discusses The Red Bowl in his book, Optical Poetry: The Life and Work of Oskar Fischinger

For about a year’s time, during 1943/ 1944, he painted all 20 celotexes simultaneously, strolling about the studio making a few lines here, a dash there, sponging an area, scraping a bit, painting over something, etc.  What a sight they must have been in 1944 with nearly all complete!

The wonderful “Red Bowl”… consists of a dozen pure geometric forms on a brown background, each of the areas lightly brushed so that the texture of the Celotex shows through, and several of the shapes overlapping so that blue and yellow and cinnabar almost combine to recreate the brown of the background which they cover: while the forms balance each other harmonically as an absolute composition, Oskar’s playful arrangement leads one to speculate if triangles in the upper area might not be pyramids – indeed if one overlapped by a pointed oval might not be the “eye” on the pyramid familiar from Egyptian/ Alchemical/ Masonic mysticism…



For more information on The Red Bowl or other works in our exhibition Abstraction: Reshaping the Natural World, please contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Andrew Brown: Rising Abstract Expressionist at Saks Galleries

Working both with oil and acrylic, Andrew Brown enjoys pushing the limits of what can be accomplished with mediums, creating depth, texture, and authenticity in his pieces both abstract and representational.

Terra
oil, 36 x 36 inches


After studying under his father, acclaimed artist Gordon Brown, for a number of years, Andrew has found his own distinct style.

He utilizes layering and destruction; building up and knocking down paint to create vivid lines, striking depth, and detailed texture. Andrew further pushes the limits of his art by hand picking the richest pigments and mixing his own paint, giving him the freedom to manipulate the properties of oil paint itself.

Glacier
oil, 60 x 30 inches

Constantly growing and learning, Andrew Brown never limits himself to one process of painting, and aims to further experiment with various techniques in his craft.


See these new works and more at Saks Galleries! 


Contact us for more information at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Friday, March 20, 2020

Sara Noel: Contemporary Abstract Expressionist at Saks Galleries

Sara Noel shares a common thread with Helen Frankenthaler, Elaine de Kooning, Grace Hartigan, Lee Krasner and Joan Mitchell. Like these women abstract expressionist who came before her, Sara Noel is immersed in the art form. While generations separate these artists, Sara found the kindred spirit that binds them - empowering color-drenched expansive compositions.

Hanging Lakemixed media on canvas, 40 x 60 inches 


Sara executes the abstract with energetic strokes of intense color, exploring layers of paint using a series of color palettes. The results express directness, mature gestures, and radical movement in expansive compositions – paintings we can get ‘lost in’.


First Winter Snow Falls Without a Sound
mixed media on canvas, 64 x 55 inches 


Not to leave anyone out, Sara has been influenced by the male counterparts of the American Abstraction Expressionist Movement as well. Willem de Kooning, Gerhard Richter, Mark Rothko, Cy Twombly and Franz Kline, all young passionate thinkers who developed their own sense of creating through the irresolute period of World War II. The darkness and uncertainty of the times brought out the strong emotions of these painters fulfilling a desire to shed the archaic forms of cultural expression.

Lillypond
acrylic on board, 36 x 40 inches


Sara values the very essence of Abstract Expressionism, which to her is spontaneity and improvisation tapping into the collective consciousness. She feels painting is an adventure into the unknown.

Sara executes the abstract with energetic strokes of intense color, exploring layers of paint using a series of color palettes. The results express directness, mature gestures, and radical movement in expansive compositions – paintings we can get ‘lost in’.


See these new works and more at Saks Galleries!


For more information, contact us at info@saksgalleries.com or 303.333.4144.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

New Arrivals! Dinah Worman at Saks Galleries


Pagosa Blues, oil, 36 x 30 inches


Living in Taos, New Mexico gives artist Dinah Worman a constant source of imagery to fill her canvases.  After years of painting pastels successfully, she shifted direction in a straight line to oils creating landscapes with a unique view.  Dinah Worman designs a landscape that is abstract, stark, seemingly flattened out on the canvas dotted with benign white-faced cows all alone in trapezoidal fields.  A modern view, derived strictly Dinah says from a subconscious level.


Val Verde Sunset, oil, 20 x 24 inches

Dinah's landscape paintings are instantly recognizable for their clarity and depth. Light is everywhere. It filters through the trees and streams, between the clouds. 

Band of Light, oil, 60 x 48 inches

Contact us at 303.333.4144 or info@saksgalleries.com.


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